Twee voorstellingen over het beleg van Antwerpen door de hertog van Parma, 1584-1585 1670 - 1699

Romeyn de Hooghe made these two scenes about the Siege of Antwerp, likely in the late 17th or early 18th century, using etching. This is a printmaking process with a long history; it involves biting lines into a metal plate with acid, then using that plate to transfer an image to paper. Look closely at the tremendous amount of work involved. The artist painstakingly scratched through a protective coating on the plate, exposing the metal to acid. This labor-intensive process allowed for detailed and repeatable imagery, which was essential for disseminating information and propaganda at the time. Notice how de Hooghe uses the qualities of line to create a sense of depth and drama. The crisp, precise lines give a documentary feel. The etching technique itself, with its reliance on skilled craftsmanship and industrial processes, reflects the complex relationship between art, labor, and power in the early modern period. Considering the material and the making helps us to appreciate the rich cultural context of this print, and to see beyond traditional distinctions between art, craft, and the broader world of production.